Marc Joel Atrero

A new era for JTAC training The RAAF’s newest unit, No 4 Squadron, was reformed at RAAF Base Williamtown on July 3, bringing together the former Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU) and the RAAF’s Special Tactics Project team which training RAAF FACs for deployment to Afghanistan in 2007/08, into a single cohesive and sustainable

Airline results soured by the global economic crisis Volatility appeared to be the key word when Qantas, Virgin Blue and Air New Zealand delivered largely positive results for the 2008/09 financial year as other airlines around the world continue to struggle financially. While there was considerable pressure on both international and domestic yields, the Qantas

In August a report in The Australian newspaper stated that: “The RAAF faces at least a two year delay in acquiring its planned F-35 Joint Strike Fighter force as the Rudd government moves to exert tighter control on the defence budget”, and “will not receive its initial squadron of F-35s until 2017, at the earliest.

Embraer Executive Jets has begun a big push to boost its presence in Australia with the recent launching of an Australian sales office, the visit to Sydney and Melbourne of a Phenom 300 cabin mockup, and a national tour by a Legacy 600 demonstrator. “The main reason why we opened the office in Sydney earlier

Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner announced on September 7 that the RAAF is leasing IAI/Malat Heron UAV operating hours to provide “high resolution” Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for Australian and allied forces in Afghanistan. The Heron Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) capability, believed to involve two aircraft, came about through Project Nankeen which

Radical transformation could be on the way for Australia’s busiest air route after Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced on August 19 that Jetstar will start flying between Sydney and Melbourne from October 25. The new flights, which will operate five times daily with 177 seat A320s, appear to be aimed at reducing the penetration of